April always seems to take MLB fans on emotional roller-coasters, and in 2012 we Cleveland Indians fans already experience such.

First, we Clevelanders headed downward after our team went 1-4 on the opening home stand at Progressive Field. However, we then enjoyed a jubilant upswing thanks to a successful 7-2 road trip.

Our journey continued as Cleveland returned to Progressive Field for a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday, April 24 through Thursday, April 26. Anchored by veteran starter Derek Lowe, the Cleveland Indians kept the upward momentum going by defeating Kansas City 4-3 in the series’ opening game.

Unfortunately, for us Tribe fans, a downfall of discouragement emerged ahead as we watched the Kansas City Royals end a 12-game losing streak and defeat the Cleveland Indians in two straight games. Looking through “#Indians” tweets following the second straight loss, the phrase “downfall of discouragement” appears fitting. While fitting, I believe some comments lack perspective.

For example, Cleveland sports blogger Adam Copeland tweeted, “Not good to lose 2 out of 3 to a team that lost 12 in a row. I’m ready to see Johnny Damon in an #Indians uniform.” What this comment fails to acknowledge includes the Tribe supplied Kansas City four of those 12 consecutive losses. Frankly, winning four games out of six pleases me.

Now, as a Cleveland Indians enthusiast, I obviously wanted the Tribe to win the three-game series. Still, I’m not fretting over the losses. The Indians came out on top in their previous three sets of games. I’m not sure about other Clevelanders, but I’ll settle for winning every three series out of four.

With all that said, I do admit a lack of Indians offense during the three-game series justifies unnerving feelings. 92.3 Indians beat reporter Matt Loede did an excellent job placing things into context when he tweeted, “#Indians scored 32 runs in 3 games vs KC two weekends ago (April 13- April 15), in going 1-2 this week, they scored 8 runs. KC pen didn’t allow a run in 3 games.”

The reason for the poor plate appearances proves somewhat complex. In short, though, I will say I maintain faith in Cleveland’s starting nine. Barring serious injuries, I believe the Indians will secure consistent offense. Remember, much like the Tribe, the season remains very young.

Zachary Fenell fell in love with the Cleveland Indians during the 1995 season when the Tribe powered their way to the organization’s first World Series appearance since 1954. While the Indians lost some allure since the 1990s you will still find Zachary watching the games on TV, listening to them on the radio, or best yet taking in a game from the stands at Progressive Field.

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CLEVELAND (AP) Derek Lowe allowed one run over six innings and the Cleveland Indians handed the Kansas City Royals their 12th straight loss, 4-3 on Tuesday night.

The Royals have been outscored 73-44 during the streak, which ties for third-longest in team history. They also lost 12 in a row in 1997 and 2008. Kansas City lost 13 straight in 2006 and had a team-record 19 consecutive losses in 2005.

Cleveland built upon a recently completed 7-2 trip by returning to Progressive Field and earning their second home win in six games.

Lowe (3-1) gave up eight hits and struck out five. Chris Perez got his seventh save, allowing a ninth-inning run.

Jack Hannahan had a two-run double in Cleveland’s three-run fifth against Jonathan Sanchez (1-1).

Beforehand, the Royals continued to try anything to get out of their funk. On Monday, they vented frustrations in a closed-door pregame meeting in which voices were raised in anger. Before opening a three-game series in Cleveland, players gathered around a clubhouse television to play a baseball video game.

That didn’t help, either.

Sanchez hit Indians leadoff batter Jason Kipnis in the hand with his fifth pitch. Kipnis eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Santana to put Cleveland ahead 1-0.

On April 14, Sanchez hit Shin-Soo Choo with a pitch. Indians starter Jeanmar Gomez retaliated the next inning by plunking the Royals’ Mike Moustakas, leading to a brief bench-clearing scuffle. Gomez drew a five-game suspension and was suspended along with Hannahan and manager Manny Acta.

A year ago with San Francisco, Sanchez broke Choo’s left thumb with a pitch. The Royals acquired him in a trade for outfielder Melky Cabrera in November.

Sanchez walked the bases loaded in the second, but got Kipnis on a first-pitch popout, followed by a double-play grounder by Asdrubal Cabrera.

The left-hander also loaded the bases with walks in the fifth. One run scored on a sacrifice fly by Shelley Duncan. Hannahan followed with a double to right-center to make it 4-1 and finish Sanchez.

Sanchez walked seven over 4 2-3 innings, allowing four runs and four hits. He threw 115 pitches, only 56 for strikes.

Mitch Maier had an RBI single for Kansas City in the fourth and doubled home a run in the eighth. Overall, the Royals went 4 for 13 with runners in scoring position. The Royals are 13 for 73 (.178) in that situation over their last eight games.

Kansas City closed to 4-3 in the ninth. Chris Getz doubled and later scored on a groundout by Billy Butler.

Lowe used a good sinker to record nine outs on grounders. The right-hander bounced back from a 4-1 loss at Seattle in which he walked six without a strikeout on April 18.

Notes: Cleveland went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position and left 13 runners on base. … Indians DH Travis Hafner walked twice. He has reached by hit, walk or hit by pitch in 16 of his last 23 plate appearances. … Hannahan made a diving backhand stop to rob Jeff Francoeur of a hit in the fourth. … Royals manager Ned Yost expects OF Lorenzo Cain (left groin strain) to return Friday. Cain has been on the DL since April 11. … Cleveland’s Aaron Cunningham started in center field, moved to left and played the ninth in right, when Choo left with an undisclosed injury. INF Jason Donald went to left field, his first appearance in the outfield in the majors.

CLEVELAND (AP) Derek Lowe allowed one run over six innings and the Cleveland Indians handed the Kansas City Royals their 12th straight loss, 4-3 on Tuesday night.

The Royals have been outscored 73-44 during the streak, which ties for third-longest in team history. They also lost 12 in a row in 1997 and 2008. Kansas City lost 13 straight in 2006 and had a team-record 19 consecutive losses in 2005.

Cleveland built upon a recently completed 7-2 trip by returning to Progressive Field and earning their second home win in six games.

Lowe (3-1) gave up eight hits and struck out five. Chris Perez got his seventh save, allowing a ninth-inning run.

Jack Hannahan had a two-run double in Cleveland‘s three-run fifth against Jonathan Sanchez (1-1).

Beforehand, the Royals continued to try anything to get out of their funk. On Monday, they vented frustrations in a closed-door pregame meeting in which voices were raised in anger. Before opening a three-game series in Cleveland, players gathered around a clubhouse television to play a baseball video game.

That didn’t help, either.

Sanchez hit Indians leadoff batter Jason Kipnis in the hand with his fifth pitch. Kipnis eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Santana to put Cleveland ahead 1-0.

On April 14, Sanchez hit Shin-Soo Choo with a pitch. Indians starter Jeanmar Gomez retaliated the next inning by plunking the Royals’ Mike Moustakas, leading to a brief bench-clearing scuffle. Gomez drew a five-game suspension and was suspended along with Hannahan and manager Manny Acta.

A year ago with San Francisco, Sanchez broke Choo’s left thumb with a pitch. The Royals acquired him in a trade for outfielder Melky Cabrera in November.

Sanchez walked the bases loaded in the second, but got Kipnis on a first-pitch popout, followed by a double-play grounder by Asdrubal Cabrera.

The left-hander also loaded the bases with walks in the fifth. One run scored on a sacrifice fly by Shelley Duncan. Hannahan followed with a double to right-center to make it 4-1 and finish Sanchez.

Sanchez walked seven over 4 2-3 innings, allowing four runs and four hits. He threw 115 pitches, only 56 for strikes.

Mitch Maier had an RBI single for Kansas City in the fourth and doubled home a run in the eighth. Overall, the Royals went 4 for 13 with runners in scoring position. The Royals are 13 for 73 (.178) in that situation over their last eight games.

Kansas City closed to 4-3 in the ninth. Chris Getz doubled and later scored on a groundout by Billy Butler.

Lowe used a good sinker to record nine outs on grounders. The right-hander bounced back from a 4-1 loss at Seattle in which he walked six without a strikeout on April 18.

Notes: Cleveland went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position and left 13 runners on base. … Indians DH Travis Hafner walked twice. He has reached by hit, walk or hit by pitch in 16 of his last 23 plate appearances. … Hannahan made a diving backhand stop to rob Jeff Francoeur of a hit in the fourth. … Royals manager Ned Yost expects OF Lorenzo Cain (left groin strain) to return Friday. Cain has been on the DL since April 11. … Cleveland’s Aaron Cunningham started in center field, moved to left and played the ninth in right, when Choo left with an undisclosed injury. INF Jason Donald went to left field, his first appearance in the outfield in the majors.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — You’re Jack Hannahan and you’re not supposed to be here.

Not at third base when the Indians opened their six-game homestand at Progressive Field against Kansas City on Tuesday night.

Forget that, you’re in Wahoo red, white in blue.

You’re 32 years old and you’re supposed to be done. Career bush-leaguer. Maybe in training to one day become a minor-league coach. For years, next to your name was this scouting report: Good glove, bad hit, no future.

But the present finds you with your baseball pants pulled up, your socks out and your cap down over your eyes as if this were 1965 and you were in the same Tribe lineup as Rocky Colavito and Leon Wagner.

You look like a guy who can’t wait to get his uniform dirty. You’re a throwback. And perhaps the biggest surprise of the past two Tribe seasons.

As Tribe manager Manny Acta said, “Admit it, when we signed Jack, people made fun of us.”

It was such a small announcement, no one even noticed enough to yawn about it.

Early in spring 2011, Acta manager called you in and said, “To make this club, you have to hit.”

Would he hit?

You knew that. Just as you knew the Indians had a phenom named Lonnie Chisenhall being prepared to play third base. Just as you knew you were 31 with a career .228 big-league average with three different teams.

Just as you knew that in 2010 you batted .237 with two teams in Class AAA. Just as you knew that if Jason Donald hadn’t broken his hand in spring training — you would have been again sent to Class AAA Columbus.

“Players in Jack’s spot sometimes need a break,” Acta said. “They need someone to believe in them.”

You wanted to believe that they believed. But that’s hard after being cut so many times. You dreaded hearing the words, “The manager wants to see you.”

But in April 2011, Acta put you at third base. You batted .273 with four homers. When you’re Jack Hannahan, there’s nothing wrong with being Mr. April. It gives you a chance to stay in the majors in May.

“You get labeled,” you said. “You have to prove them wrong. I’ll always have to bob and weave around all the prospects.”

Chisenhall is only 23. He is hitting .315 with four homers at Class AAA Columbus. You know all about baseball being “here today, gone tomorrow” for players such as yourself … players called JAG … Just Another Guy.

But Acta says you “may be figuring it out” at the plate. That something happened in the middle of last season when you switched to a heavier bat and a lighter swing. You batted .322 (.871 OPS) after the All-Star break.

The new birth

That also coincided with the birth of John Joseph Hannahan. Jenny, your wife, was in the hospital for a month before John’s birth. Every night you were in town, you were with her at the hospital. The expected birthdate was Oct. 26.

But on Aug. 4, the doctors knew they had to go get the baby. You were at Fenway Park with the Tribe, and your teammates took up a collection to pay $35,000 to rent a private jet so you could be there in time for the birth at 3:11 a.m. Your first child weighed 2 pounds, 11 ounces. Jenny made it through the ordeal.

You batted .368 after the birth, compared to .213 before.

So many good things happened at once. You felt the love and respect of your teammates. While Chisenhall had been promoted to Cleveland, you remained on the roster. Your manager raved about your defense. You sensed that you belonged, you who so often had been the last guy to make the team in spring training and one of the first to return to the minors in the summer.

And you began to hit.

Last week, you charged on the field twice in Kansas City because you were upset when Royals pitcher Jonathan Sanchez hit Shin-Soo Choo. The idea that someone was trying to hurt one of your guys was maddening, and you were tired of people throwing at Choo.

Tribe players and fans had never seen that side, the Mad Jack Hannahan whose favorite movie is “Braveheart.”

You’re Jack Hannahan and you came into Tuesday’s game hitting .341 with 11 RBI in 12 games, later delivering two runs on a fifth-inning double off Sanchez. It’s more of what fans saw in the second half of last season.

You said that you’ve “stopped trying to be someone else.” Acta said not to worry about power, just catch the ball. Don’t be afraid to settle for singles and doubles. Play the game the right way.

You were the 2000 Big Ten Player of the Year at Minnesota, a third-round pick by the Detroit Tigers. You were supposed to hit home runs. But that didn’t happen. You spent part of three years in Class AA Erie, parts of three more years in Class AAA Toledo. You were traded and sold and told you were a disappointment.

Until now. Until you came here. Until you felt the cheers of the fans.

“I’m a blue-collar guy [from St. Paul, Minn.] and this is a blue-collar town,” you said. “I’m just thankful to be here.”

The scene between the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals on Saturday, April 14 at Kauffman Stadium resembled WWE Monday Night Raw on Monday, April 9. However, instead of WWE workers trying to separate superstars Brock Lesnar and John Cena in a staged incident, umpires, along with a mass of players, tried separating their respective teammates during genuinely heated moments.

Following two bench-clearing incidents, the Cleveland Indians lost starter Jeanmar Gomez, third baseman Jack Hannahan, and manager Manny Acta to ejections. No one from the Kansas City Royals received pink slips to the showers.

Trouble began in the top of the third after Kansas City starter Jonathan Sanchez hit Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo with a pitch. Choo jaw jacked with Sanchez, telling him to throw the ball over the plate–and next thing you know benches clear.

A similar incident occurred back on opening day April 5 against the Toronto Blue Jays. In the 15th inning during the Tribe’s opening day baseball marathon, Choo teased charging the mound after almost getting drilled by a high pitch. Earlier in the game, Toronto pitching did hit Choo.

Now, I imagine to an outsider Shin-Soo Choo may seem like a crying baby. After all, getting hit with pitches proves part of the game. However, get this: Over the first seven games Choo has been hit three times. In other words, through Saturday Choo remained on pace to get hit every other game.

Plus, back in 2011, the Cleveland Indians lost Shin-Soo Choo for a significant amount of time after a hit by pitch broke the right fielder’s thumb. Who threw this damaging pitch? Yes, Jonathan Sanchez. Considering all these facts, can you really blame the Tribe’s right fielder for voicing his frustration?

Personally, I believe comments ejected third baseman Jack Hannahan made to the media puts things best: “If we’re going to contend, we need our big boys healthy.”

Shin-Soo Choo represents one such “big boy.” In both 2009 and 2010, Choo batted .300 with at least 20 stolen bases, 31 doubles, 20 home runs, and 86 RBIs. Last season, Choo stood at the verge of turning his disappointing season around when Sanchez broke the outfielder’s thumb.

Ultimately, I find Shin-Soo Choo’s and the Cleveland Indians’ actions reassuring. The team sends the message they won’t sit idly by and watch one of their best offensive weapons suffer abuse. Moving forward, I’m sure opposing pitchers will likely think twice about pitching Choo too inside.

Advantage Cleveland!

Zachary Fenell fell in love with the Cleveland Indians during the 1995 season when the Tribe powered their way to the organization’s first World Series appearance since 1954. While the Indians lost some allure since the 1990s you will still find Zachary watching the games on TV, listening to them on the radio, or best yet taking in a game from the stands at Progressive Field.

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Reporter Sheldon Ocker writes on Ohio.com how the Cleveland Indians have been a clutch hitting team when it comes to producing runs with two outs.

Scoring in that situation is a necessity if a team is going to win enough games to contend for the postseason.

Even in the first four games of the season, when the Indians scored a total of 14 runs, nine were driven in after there were two outs in the inning. The problem wasn’t a scarcity of two-out runs, but runs of any kind.

Since then, the offense has come alive with 38 runs in the past four games, 19 scoring after the second out of the inning.

Ocker writes about the biggest rally of Sunday’s 13-7 win over the Kansas City Royals was the six-run third, when all the scoring came after two were out.

Why was it the most significant rally of the game? Because it wiped out a three-run deficit and enabled the Indians to keep the lead for the duration.

“Six runs after two outs was key for us,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “And the way we did it was putting up good at-bats.”

  

More Cleveland Indians

Johnny Damon is getting closer to Cleveland, via Arizona (Cleveland.com)

Tribe at Seattle Mariners preview (CantonRep.com).

Seattle Mariners want to step it up a notch, starting against the Tribe (Seattle Times).

The Mariners play their first series at home this season against the Tribe (Tacoma Tribune).

How will Johnny Damon fit in with the Tribe (MLB.com)?

 

 

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Travis Hafner gave a powerful reminder of what he’s meant to the Cleveland Indians.Hafner hit one of the longest home runs in Kauffman Stadium history, Shelly Duncan homered and drove in three runs and the Indians romped past the Kansas City Royals 13-7 Sunday for a three-game sweep.Casey Kotchman and Jason Kipnis homered on consecutive pitches for Cleveland in the eighth inning.For the first time in the Indians’ 111-year history, they scored at least eight runs in their first three road games of a season.Hafner’s home run in the fifth inning off Luis Mendoza went an estimated 456 feet and was the first to land in a sports bar behind the right-field bleachers. It was the longest home run at Kauffman Stadium since David Ortiz, then with Minnesota, hit one 458 feet on April 8, 2001.”I’ve seen a lot of games here and I haven’t seen a ball hit that far,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “That was pretty impressive. He’s hit two balls already that the people in Cleveland were used to seeing before he hurt his shoulder.”Hafner hit 42 home runs in 2006, then had shoulder surgery in 2008. In the next three seasons while recovering, he hit a total of 42 homers.”I feel great and really have a good approach at the plate and the swing feels good. I’m in a good spot,” Hafner said.It was not the longest home run of Hafner’s career, but close.”I think there have been some measured like in the 470s, but that’s about as good as I can hit them,” he said. “I followed it. I didn’t see it at the very end. I thought it made it over the seats. I was just able to stay back on an off-speed pitch and put a good swing on it and backspin it. It’s fun to hit them that good.”It was not fun for the Kansas City pitchers, who gave up seven home runs, 17 extra-base hits and 32 runs in the three games.Things got so bad for the Royals that manager Ned Yost put outfielder Mitch Maier on the mound in the ninth. Maier was the only Kansas City pitcher to not give up a run, getting Asdrubal Cabrera to ground into a double play after giving up a single.”Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again,” Maier said. “I don’t like to be put in that situation, but we needed an inning.”Hafner went 3 for 4 and drew an intentional walk. Duncan hit a three-run homer in the Indians’ six-run third inning and walked in his next three plate-appearances.Kotchman and Kipnis connected against Louis Coleman.Ubaldo Jimenez (0-1), who had not pitched since April 7 while serving a five-game suspension from a spring training incident against Colorado, gave up four runs on nine hits and three walks in five innings to pick up the victory.”Throwing 112 pitches in five innings is not good,” Jimenez said. “It feels good to feel part of the team again. It was the first time I’ve been suspended. It’s not good at all. It doesn’t feel good. You don’t feel like you’re part of the team. It’s good to be back.”Mendoza (0-2) was pulled after four-plus innings, permitting nine runs – five earned – on nine hits and four walks. The Royals’ starting pitchers allowed 24 hits and 21 runs in 10 2-3 innings in the three losses.Brayan Pena had his first career-four hit game. Chris Getz added three hits, including a triple, and drove in a pair of runs with a second-inning single as the Royals took a 3-0 lead.

Travis Hafner hit one of the longest home runs in Kauffman Stadium history, Shelly Duncan homered and drove in three runs and the Cleveland Indians romped past the Kansas City Royals 13-7 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Casey Kotchman and Jason Kipnis homered on consecutive pitches for Cleveland in the eighth inning.

For the first time in the Indians’ 111-year history, they scored at least eight runs in their first three road games of a season.

Royals outfielder Mitch Maier pitched the ninth. He worked a scoreless inning, allowing one hit.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Travis Hafner hit one of the longest home runs in Kauffman Stadium history, Shelly Duncan homered and drove in three runs and the Cleveland Indians romped past the Kansas City Royals 13-7 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Casey Kotchman and Jason Kipnis homered on consecutive pitches for Cleveland in the eighth inning.

For the first time in the Indians’ 111-year history, they scored at least eight runs in their first three road games of a season.

It got so bad for the Royals that manager Ned Yost put outfielder Mitch Maier on the mound in the ninth. Maier was the only Kansas City pitcher to not give up a run, working a hitless inning.

Hafner’s home run in the fifth inning off Luis Mendoza went an estimated 456 feet and was the first to land in a sports bar behind the right-field bleachers. It was the longest home run at Kauffman Stadium since David Ortiz, then with Minnesota, hit one 458 feet on April 8, 2001.

Hafner went 3 for 4 and drew an intentional walk. Duncan hit a three-run homer in the Indians’ six-run third inning and walked in his next three plate-appearances.

Kotchman and Kipnis connected against Louis Coleman. The Indians collected seven home runs and 18 extra-base hits in the series.

Ubaldo Jimenez (0-1), who had not pitched since April 7 while serving a five-game suspension from a spring training incident against Colorado, gave up four runs on nine hits and three walks in five innings to pick up the victory.

Mendoza (0-2) was pulled after four-plus innings, permitting nine runs – five earned – on nine hits and four walks. The Royals’ starting pitchers allowed 24 hits and 21 runs in 10 2-3 innings in the three losses.

Brayan Pena had his first career-four hit game. Chris Getz added three hits, including a triple, and drove in a pair of runs with a second-inning single as the Royals took a 3-0 lead.

NOTES: The Indians are expected to officially sign OF Johnny Damon to a minor league contract Monday after he passes a physical. He would report to their spring training complex in Goodyear, Ariz., for conditioning before going to Triple-A Columbus. If all goes well, Damon could join the Indians in early May. … This was the 11th time in Royals’ history they have used a position player to pitch and it was Maier’s second time on the mound. He also threw a scoreless inning July 26, 2011, at Boston. … The Royals recalled Coleman from Triple-A Omaha and optioned OF Jarrod Dyson to the same club. … RHP Felipe Paulino, who is on the Royals disabled list with a forearm strain, is scheduled to throw 35 pitches Monday in an extended spring game in Surprise, Ariz. … The Indians have homered in each of their first eight games. That is the fourth longest streak in franchise history to start a season. They homered in nine straight to open the 2006 and 1997 seasons. … The Indians swept a series in Kansas City for the first time since April 2008.

The Cleveland Indians are slugging it out at the plate, and on the verge of sweeping their first road series of 2012.

Another strong effort from the offense may be what Ubaldo Jimenez needs to get his first victory.

Jimenez returns from suspension Sunday looking for some support from the Indians as they try to complete a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals.

Cleveland (3-4) hit a paltry .176 during a 1-4 season-opening homestand, but the lineup has shown some dramatic improvement in Kansas City (3-5). The Indians are hitting .313 in this series, collecting 11 hits in an 8-3 win Friday before pounding out 14 during Saturday’s 11-9, 10-inning victory.

Shin-Soo Choo came up with the clutch hit Saturday, connecting for a two-out, two-run double in the 10th after the Royals had rallied from a seven-run, fifth-inning deficit. Choo got the last laugh after he was hit by a pitch in the third, causing the benches and bullpens to spill out onto the field for the first of two times in the inning.

“‘What a crazy kind of emotional game,” said Indians manager Manny Acta, who was among those thrown out during the eventful third. “Just glad we came out on top.”

Acta will now give the ball to Jimenez, who returns from a five-game suspension for hitting Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki with a pitch during spring training.

The right-hander was outstanding in his season debut April 7, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh before giving up a two-run single in the Indians’ eventual 7-4, 12-inning loss to Toronto.

“(Ubaldo) definitely pitched good enough to win,” second baseman Jason Kipnis told the Indians’ official website. “He looked a little bit more determined – a little bit more ready – than we might’ve seen in spring. That was good to see. He kind of came out on fire and just kind of stayed that way.”

Jimenez didn’t need much help from his teammates in his only career meeting with the Royals on Aug. 26. He yielded one run in seven innings of a 2-1 victory, striking out 10.

He surely wouldn’t mind more support from the offense, and Carlos Santana may give it to him. Cleveland’s catcher has three hits in this series, including a double, a single and two RBIs on Saturday. Santana owns a .316 average with eight RBIs and 13 walks in 11 career games in Kansas City.

The Indians have won 11 of their last 15 at Kauffman Stadium, averaging 7.2 runs in those contests.

The Royals are looking to avoid the sweep and ending a three-game skid, which has included a bloated 10.80 ERA from the starting rotation.

Luis Mendoza will take the mound for Kansas City. The right-hander battled through 5 2-3 innings in his season debut Monday, allowing one run, five hits and four walks. He got charged with a 1-0 loss to Oakland, as the Royals offense managed just three hits.

Mendoza posted a major league-best 0.47 ERA in spring training.

Royals designated hitter Billy Butler is 7 for 18 with four doubles, one homer and four RBIs in his last four games. He had two hits and two RBIs in Saturday’s defeat.

The Minnesota Twins will play 72 regular-season games against AL Central opponents during the 2012 MLB season. Those opponents include the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. The home and away games will be evenly distributed at 36.

The Twins won’t play an AL Central opponent until they have a three-game home series with the Royals from April 27 through April 29. The Twins will host their final series against an AL Central opponent when they face the Tigers from September 28 through September 30. The Twins won’t play a divisional opponent away from Minnesota until May 16.

Here is a brief rundown of the Twins’ schedule against divisional opponents for the 2012 MLB season.

Complete MLB schedule can be found HERE.

April 2012 (3 Home, 0 Road)

April 27-29: Kansas City Royals

May 2012 (5 Home, 5 Road)

May 14-15: Cleveland Indians

May 16-17: at Detroit Tigers

May 22-24: at Chicago White Sox

May 25-27: Detroit Tigers

June 2012 (5 Home, 6 Road)

June 1-3: at Cleveland Indians

June 4-6: at Kansas City Royals

June 25-27: Chicago White Sox

June 29-30: Kansas City Royals

July 2012 (6 Home, 10 Road)

July 1: Kansas City Royals (Continued)

July 2-5: at Detroit Tigers

July 20-22: at Kansas City Royals

July 23-25: at Chicago White Sox

July 27-29: Cleveland Indians

July 30-31: Chicago White Sox

August 2012 (4 Home, 4 Road)

August 1: Chicago White Sox (Continued)

August 6-8: at Cleveland Indians

August 13-15: Detroit Tigers

August 31: at Kansas City Royals

September And October 2012 (13 Home, 11 Road)

September 1-2: at Kansas City Royals (Continued)

September 3-5: at Chicago White Sox

September 7-10: Cleveland Indians

September 11-13: Kansas City Royals

September 14-16: Chicago White Sox

September 18-20: at Cleveland Indians

September 21-23: at Detroit Tigers

September 28-30: Detroit Tigers

MLB schedules subject to change due to rainouts or any other unanticipated postponement.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid-90s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months. He can be found on Twitter HERE.

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